Huge boost for major Gold Coast surfing event

Next year’s Global Wave Conference has been given a huge international boost.

NEXT year’s Global Wave Conference has been given a huge international boost with addition of Mark Taylor, the submarine man for David Attenborough’s Blue Ocean documentary series.

Patron of GCWSR and former world champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew AM welcomed the renowned cameraman and ocean conservation explorer.

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“Having Taylor as a key speaker will enhance the international credibility of the conference. His work with Attenborough’s popular documentary series is well known around the world and we look forward to watching his valuable ocean conservation vision,” said Bartholomew, who is also a key speaker at GWC 2020.

Andy McKinnon, Jaggar Bartholomew,Ellie J Brooks, Larissa Rose and Wayne 'Rabbit 'Bartholomew at Currumbin Alley. Picture: Tim Marsden

“Next year’s Global Wave Conference will bring the smartest surfing minds in the world to the Gold Coast to seek outcomes and solutions for the many issues facing ocean pollution.”

Global Wave ambassador Ellie Brooks, a part-time Southern Cross University student and world professional surfer, said: “This is the first time Australia has hosted an international conference such as this and it is awesome that Gold Coast is the venue.

SURFING DREAM TEAM BACK TOGETHER

“It will help focus on the problems and create global awareness of how we can reverse the plastic pollution.”

Brooks is competing in next month’s world women’s qualifying series events in California.

National coaches from Surfing Australia, Bede Durbidge and Kim Crane, have been confirmed in the speakers’ line-up. shedding light on Australia’s preparation for next year’s Japan Olympics.

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Registration for Global Wave Conference is available at: www.globalwaveconference2020.

It is open to the public and university students seeking to submit papers and journals.

The sixth biannual International Ocean Conservation event will be hosted at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus from February 10-14, 2020.

■ Affectionately known as Gordo the Great, John Gordon is hosting the Gordo’s goodwill fundraiser night at Surf World Surf Museum Currumbin on Saturday night

The much-loved award-winning cameraman from Currumbin, who has won multiple media awards, has a heart of gold.

Gordo hails from a media family; his dad Jim was editor of The Courier-Mail and older brother Michael was a senior editor of The Age newspaper.

Gordo was a senior news cameraman for the Seven Network over a 20-year period before joining WSL as a key cameraman broadcasting the live webcast coverage of the world tour.

Having been to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa 22 times, he has organised a fundraiser for a JBay township family that he and Joel Parkinson have been sponsoring.

“I’ve had some great times there and now it is time to give back,” he said

World champion “Rabbit” Bartholomew is MC, providing a hilarious night of colourful yarns.

Surfboards from Paul Davidson and Gunther Rohn will be auctioned including WSL jerseys from Hawaii’s world champion John Florence, South Africa’s Jordy Smith and Kauai’s Sebastian Ziets.

Gordon’s Gold Coast documentary Waves of Paradise will be screened featuring the late Wayne Deane.